Statement from Mayor Eisenberger on recent random police questioning of Councillor Green
HAMILTON, ON April 27, 2016 – As this is a formal complaint, and as I am both mayor and a member of the Police Services Board, it would not be proper to comment while the matter is being investigated.
My position on carding in general is well-known: it is indiscriminate, targeted, street checks, without the suspicion of a crime. As far as I’m concerned this must not be practiced and it is proper that it be banned.
In October 2015, the Provincial government proposed draft regulations that have now been passed. As of January 2017, the new rules say police officers cannot randomly or arbitrarily stop and question citizens. Officers must also inform a citizen that a stop is voluntary and they have the right to walk away. They will also be required to provide a reason for the stop, documentation about it afterwards, and must inform citizens how to file a complaint or access information obtained during the stop.